What's on in Germany: April 4 - 11

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This Week's Highlights: British film in Berlin, a tattoo party in Hamburg, and Marcel Duchamp in Munich

BERLIN

Film

The Archers – Films by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger

They went by “The Archers” and they were one of the UK's most important filmmaking duos. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger were especially prolific in the 1940s and 1950s, churning out a string of big screen hits including Black Narcissus and The Red Shoes. See these and more at Arsenal Cinema in Berlin.

What better day to witness a performance of Handel's “Messiah” than Easter Sunday? After all the egg-hunting and chocolate eating, relax beneath the grand dome of the Berlin Cathedral and listen to the Berlin Sinfonietta and the Collegium Vocale Berlin choir perform that inspiring opus.

Two artists. Two cities. Jennifer Kotter's photographs of New York join Valentin Rothmaler's graphic Berlin imagery at K80 Galerie for one more week. See two of the world's greatest metropolises from two interesting perspectives.

Images of a Movement, Which Shouldn't Be One – Occupy Wall Street New York – Frankfurt

The Iranian-born, New York-based photographer Ashkan Sahihi and the Frankfurt photographer Bernd Kammerer took pictures of the tents, the barricades, the police, and the protesters. If you wanted to be there but couldn't, this is the next best thing.

Tattoo artists from all over the world gather in Hamburg this weekend to show off their skills at the 13th International Hamburg Tattoo Convention. See what fantastical designs they make with ink on skin. And go ahead and get that little empty spot filled in on your upper arm, lower back, behind your knee, or wherever it is. These guys aren't messing around.

Price: €14 (Day Ticket); €40 (Festival Ticket)

Location: Markthalle Hamburg, Klosterwall 11

Times: Saturday, April 7 and Sunday, April 8, Noon-Midnight; Monday, April 9, Noon-8pm

Klaus Genschel's book Huhn Renate entdeckt die Welt (Renate the Chicken Discovers the World) is full of exciting stories and songs about one curious chicken's adventures. Bring the kids to Thalia Bookstore Saturday when the author and songwriter reads and sings from his book.

The springtime fun starts Saturday in Hanover. Swirling rides, blinking lights, colors flashing everywhere! Schützenplatz is blooming with sugar-coated candyland excitement for the annual Spring Festival in Hanover. Family days are Wednesdays, and Fridays are for fireworks. Celebrate spring and take a swirl on the Ferris wheel, even if it makes you feel a little sick. You can always get a beer after.

“My stay in Munich was the scene of my complete liberation,” said Marcel Duchamp a century ago. Back in 1912, the artist spent three months in the Bavarian capital, painting, perusing, being inspired, and inspiring. In honour of that ground-breaking sojourn, Munich's Lenbachhaus is hosting a grand exhibition featuring a range of works including “Nude Descending a Staircase” on view for the first time ever in Germany.

Street life. Without it a city has no pulse. Munich's Pinakothek der Moderne's “True Stories” exhibition presents an overview of American Photography from the 1960s to the present day. Take a look at works by Robert Adams, Lewis Baltz, Larry Clark, Lee Friedlander, William Eggleston, and others and notice how street styles have changed along with photography techniques.

Pretty painted eggs and cute little wood carved bunnies fill the stalls at the Nuremberg Easter Market. Get into the springtime spirit and enjoy the open-air ambience at the Bavarian city's main market square. Lots of regional goodies like clothing, housewares, toys, and gardening products will be on offer. Once you've filled your basket, settle in at the beer garden. A fresh Bavarian brew always tastes better when you can smell the daffodils.

Price: Free

Location: Nürnberger Hauptmarkt

Times: Thursday, April 5 and Saturday, April 7, 9:30am-7pm; Easter Sunday, April 8 and Monday, April 9, 10:30am-7pm; Closed Friday, April 6

Every year, the German state of Thuringia celebrates one of its most famous former residents—the Baroque maestro Johann Sebastian Bach, with a festival of music. One of the highlights of this year's event is a performance of St. John's Passion by the illustrious Belgian orchestra Il Fondamento. No better time to hear the sacred oratorio than Good Friday. Herr Bach wrote the piece for that very occasion 288-years-ago. Talk about longevity.